Aug 12, 2026, 02:00 AM UTC

Efforts to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remain uncertain as conflicting signals emerge from Washington and Tehran. US officials expressed optimism that an agreement to reopen the waterway could be reached within days, supported by Qatari mediation. However, Iranian officials denied engaging in direct negotiations with Washington.

Diplomatic prospects face further hurdles after US President Donald Trump announced plans to demand financial compensation from Tehran for past Iranian-backed attacks and internal crackdowns.

Simultaneously, Iranian diplomatic spokesperson Esmaïl Baghaï announced that Iran and Oman approved technical coordinates for a revised maritime corridor in the strait. He noted "the geographical coordinates of the route planned by both parties have been approved," provided third parties do not interfere.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération, RTBF Info.

Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte appeared before a parliamentary inquiry commission in Rome to defend his government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the marathon hearing, the Five Star Movement leader denied any wrongdoing regarding emergency decrees, mask procurement, and lockdown measures.

Conte announced he had submitted an anonymous document to Rome prosecutors concerning potential irregularities in a 100-million-euro mask deal involving JC Electronics. Rejecting criticisms from the ruling right-wing coalition, he defended Italy's emergency strategy and urged lawmakers not to turn the inquiry into political "execution squads." The hearing had been delayed by several hours due to parliamentary scheduling conflicts before Conte delivered his detailed defense.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica.

Ukraine has stated it did not target Bulgaria "deliberately" following the crash of an explosive-laden drone near a strategic gas pipeline in northeastern Bulgaria.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgii Tykhyi confirmed that Kyiv is in "close contact with the Bulgarian side in order to clarify the circumstances" surrounding the incident near the Romanian border. Sofia’s Ministry of Defence previously indicated that the aircraft matched a model "largely used by Ukrainian armed forces," while emphasizing there was no evidence of an intentional attack on Bulgarian territory.

The incident occurred amid a broader escalation in regional hostilities. Recent reciprocal strikes between Russian and Ukrainian forces have left at least 14 people dead, as cross-border attacks hit energy infrastructure and populated areas across the conflict zone.

Sources: Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Soir, Libération.

Southern and central European countries are preparing for prolonged extreme heat as a fourth heatwave moves across the region.

In Italy, health officials extended red alerts across all 27 major cities, including Messina and Reggio Calabria. Authorities advised the public to remain indoors during peak afternoon hours as temperatures reach 40°C, with at least four deaths linked to the heat in recent days.

Meanwhile, Austria's meteorological service GeoSphere reported a preliminary national record high of 40.8°C in Stammersdorf, north of Vienna, surpassing the previous record set in 2013. Other European nations, including France and the United Kingdom, are also preparing for elevated temperatures near 40°C amid ongoing drought and wildfire risks.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, DR, TV 2 Nyheter, VG (Verdens Gang)

US President Donald Trump was secretly transferred to an alternative military aircraft during his departure from Turkey last month, following a credible assassination threat linked to Iran, according to media reports.

The operation took place in July after Trump attended a NATO summit in Ankara, coinciding with American military strikes in southern Iran. Although official White House communications stated that the president was travelling aboard Air Force One, security personnel executed a decoy strategy. Trump publicly boarded his primary aircraft before being covertly moved across the tarmac inside an airport catering truck to a secondary military transport bound for the United Kingdom.

Journalists travelling with the presidential delegation were reportedly unaware of the arrangement until after the aircraft departed.

Sources: Euronews Greece, France24, Mediapool, ORF, The Guardian